La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team swept a doubleheader with UW-River Falls Monday afternoon, winning the opener, 6-2, and the nightcap, 5-4, Monday afternoon at North Campus Field. The wins move UWL to 15-9 overall and 3-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) while UW-River Falls drops to 6-14 overall and 0-2 in the WIAC.

In the first game, UW-River Falls scored first as it got a solo home run from Hannah Theobald in the third inning. The Falcons would get another solo home run in the fourth inning from Lexi Dupee to put them up 2-0. After UWL was sent down in order in the first three innings, the Eagles' offense would breakthrough in the bottom half of the fourth. With one out, Sydney Murphy doubled and advanced to third on a passed ball. She scored on a single by Stephanie Cole to make the score 2-1. One out later, Sabrina Scardamaglia doubled to score Cole and tie the game up at 2-2. Scardamaglia later scored as Katie Block reached on an error.

The Eagles would score three more runs on two hits in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. With one out, Emily Knight walked and advanced to second on a ground out. Murphy then walked to put runners at first and second. Cole recorded a single and advanced to second on an error, which scored both Knight and Murphy.  Kendra Leis singled to drive in Cole and give the Eagles a 6-2 lead.

Sydne Shattuck came on in relief for the Eagles and closed the door as she allowed just one base runner. Caitlyn Hughes (9-1) picked up the win for the Eagles, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out five in 4.2 innings of work. Shattuck pitched the final 2.1 innings to pick up her first save of the season. Cole who finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Eagles' offense. Scardamaglia and Leis both finished 1-for-3 with an RBI while Murphy was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.

Payton Speckel (1-9) suffered the loss for the Falcons as she allowed six runs on five hits while striking out five in 4.2 innings.  

Game two started much the same as game one as neither team was able to score in the first two innings. UW-River Falls would score first in the third inning as Kaia Dorn recorded a two-out double and scored on a single by Molly Kaspar. The Falcons would add a run in the fourth inning to lead 2-0 as they scored a run on three hits.

The Eagles would get on the scoreboard in the fourth inning as Leis singled and advanced to second on a single by Scardamaglia. One out later, Haley Radewan hit her first home run of the season to put the Eagles up, 3-2. UW-River Falls would get a run in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3, but UWL would regain the lead in its half of the fifth scoring two runs on two hits. Annalise Devall led-off the fifth with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Murphy was hit-by-pitch before Cole drove grounded out to score Devall and advance Murphy to second. Murphy then scored on a double by Leis to make the score 5-3.

Dorn would pull the Falcons within one at 5-4 with an RBI single in the top of the sixth. UW-River Falls threatened in the seventh inning, but stranded the tying run on third base to end the game.

Hughes (10-1) came on in relief for the Eagles to pick up her second win of the day as she pitched 3.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits while striking out two. Shattuck pitched the seventh inning to pick up her second save of the day. Leis and Scardamaglia each finished 2-for-3 while Radewan was 1-for-3 with three RBI and one run.

Hannah Stegeman (2-4) suffered the loss for the Falcons as she gave up four runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings.

UWL returns to action Tuesday, April 9 hosting sixth-ranked the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) at 3:30 p.m. at North Campus Field.